In Japan, there is a type of welfare providers who can give services to disabled persons and children on a voluntary basis, in addition to elderly people. This is called a "symbiotic welfare service" system. This study is intended to present a comprehensive policy analysis about the trend and features of subsidies provided by prefectural governments to the symbiotic welfare services as well as to clarify the direction and guideline for community-based welfare policies conducted by prefectures. The results of this policy analysis are summarized as follows: The symbiotic welfare service system has the advantage of addressing various welfare needs in each region, since it includes both legally provided services and voluntary services. More and more prefectural governments, noting this advantage, have started to give subsidies to the symbiotic welfare services since 2000, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in number of providers of the symbiotic welfare services as well as in diversification of services. In addition, the symbiotic welfare service providers are regarded as ideal partners in the integrated community care system which is currently built by the central government, and is able to develop this system effectively for not only the elderly people but also all people who need social service. Prefectural governments should support the symbiotic service providers from now on.